The Weekly SERMON

The Weekly SERMON Volume No. 2013 Issue No. 40 Date: November 29, 2015 Publication of the BIBLE BAPTIST MINISTRY, 48 Alexie Rd, Hanover Township, PA 18706 Phone: 570.829.5216 [email protected]

How often do we hear this statement, "We go to church to worship God?" We tend to rush into church, go through what one calls worship, and then rush out of the service wondering why we ever came and what we did in worshiping God. So what then is the worship of God? Worship is the celebration of God. When we worship God, we celebrate Him; we extol Him, we sound His praises, and we boast in Him.

Worship is not the casual chatter that drowns out the piano prelude. We celebrate God when we allow the prelude to attune our hearts to the glory of God by the means of the music.

Worship is not the mumbling of prayers or the mouthing of hymns with little thought and less heart. We celebrate God when we join together earnestly in prayer and intensely in song.

Worship is not self-exalting words or boring clichés when one is asked to give a testimony. We celebrate God when all of the parts of the service fit together and work for a common end.

Worship is not grudging gifts or compulsory service. We celebrate God when we give to Him wholeheartedly and serve Him with integrity.

Worship is not haphazard music done poorly, not even great music done merely as a performance. We celebrate God when we enjoy and participate in music to His glory.

Worship is not a detached endurance of a sermon. We celebrate God as we hear His Word gladly and seek to be conformed by it more and more to the image of our Savior.

Worship is not the hurried motions of a "tacked-on" Lord's Table. We celebrate God pre-eminently when we fellowship gratefully at the ceremonial meal that speaks so centrally of our faith in Christ who died for us, who rose again on our behalf, and who is coming again.

Worship is like a thoughtful gift in a celebration of a birthday, as a special evening out for an anniversary, as a warm eulogy in a celebration of a life. A worship service is a celebration of God. In Psalm 100: 1-5 we read, "Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise.' be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.”

This week as you meditate on the thoughts above and read the Weekly SERMON, why not allow the words of Terry York's "Worthy of Worship" to filter through your mind and heart.

Worthy of worship, Worthy of praise, Worthy of honor and glory; Worthy of all the glad songs we can sing, Worthy of all of the offerings we bring.

Worthy of reverence, Worthy of fear, Worthy of love and devotion; Worthy of bowing and bending of knees, Worthy of all this and added to these.

Almighty Father, Master and Lord, King of all kings and Redeemer, Wonderful Counselor, Comforter, Friend, Savior and Source of our life without end.

You are worthy, Father, Creator. You are worthy, Savior, Sustainer. You are worthy, worthy and wonderful; Worthy of worship and praise.

And may God's blessing be upon you this week as you read and meditate from Exodus 31:4, “Jehovah-Mekadesh” To easily access the Weekly SERMON message, go to and click on the http:// link at the bottom of this page. In His Amazing Grace Pastor David Miklas